Explorer window sometimes won't go up
 

My friend drove over last night in his hand-me-down 1996 Ford Explorer. His driver's side window was stuck down. All the others worked fine.

I could hear the motor click when he pushed down, but nothing when he pushed up. I went into the house to put down my stuff (as he pulled into my driveway just before I did), and when I came back out, he said that it started working again. Sure enough, it was fine after that.

He reports no other electrical or interior issues. I'm guessing it's the switch, but I'm sure someone knows more about power windows than I do. :)

Moved to Lounge
~Brian

probably the switch or a loose wire. Could also be a wire that is worn through the coating and grounding out.

There really isn't much to removing the door panels on those, but the wiring may not be easy to see the path of. You could try a new switch if you wanted to (Can't remove them without removing the door panel, so don't try)

I may be able to get some pictures if my 95 is still here when my camera arrives.

If you actuate the switch in question with the dome light on and the light dims slightly, the switch should be good.

If it is affecting other systems in the car, like the light dimming, that would make me think there is a large power draw on the system, more than the motor should have. Are you pressing it up or down when it dims? Could be a short in the wire that only contacts some other metal randomly, and in playing with the switch, you move it enough to have it work.


Fords suck with power windows. I had to check one in a taurus a couple weeks ago.

My sister's Taurus has been driving us crazy with an intermittent LF power window. We have replaced the switch and the motor and checked the wiring and it still doesn't work all the time.

yeah, there is an issue with a module in the taurus I believe that can go bad. I know the one I worked on (2002) had auto-down, but could not work any other windows. I believe it might be some cut wires where they go into the body. There are a couple relays you can check too on those.